Fence-post.



No. 801,529. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. G. M. KOONTZ.

FENCE POST.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY81, 190s.

G. Jib f 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed May 31, 1905. Serial N0. 263,108-

!0 41M w/tom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE M. KooNrz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vanatta, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fence-posts; and its object is to provide a device of this character having means whereby the wires or fabric of a fence can be securely connected to the post and can be quickly tightened and secured thereto.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a post having ears extending therefrom in which are rotatably mounted one or more rods to which the wires or fabric of the fence are adapted to be secured. Means are provided for locking the rods against rotation in one direction.

The invention also consists of the further novel constructions and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of acorner-post embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a section therethrough.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a post, having bolts 2 extending therethrough and secured in place by means of nuts 3 or in any other suitable manner. These bolts, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1, are rectangular in cross-section for a portion of their length and have eyes 4, which form bearings for a rotatable rod 5. A ratchet 6 is secured to the upper portion of the rod and bears upon the upper eye 4 and serves to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rod. This upper eye is of greater width than the other eyes and has pivoted upon it a springpressed pawl 7, which normally engages the ratchet 6. An angular head 8 is formed at the upper end of the rod 5 and adapted to be en gaged by a suitable tool 9, whereby it can be rotated manually.

The wires 10 of which the fence is formed are adapted to be secured to rod 5 at proper intervals. They can be uniformly stretched simultaneously by rotating rod 5. This can be conveniently done with the tool 9, and as the rod 5 turns its ratchet 6 will rotate and cause its teeth to successively pass the pawl 7. The wires will therefore be wound on the rod, and the pawl will prevent them from unwinding.

The tightening means herein described is particularly adapted for use on corner-posts, and in such cases two rods are mounted on the post, as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, however, one or more intermediate posts of a fence can be formed with a tightening-rod, particularly where long spans of wires are located between the corner-posts. \Vith the device herein described any form of wire or fabric can be connected to the posts, and all portions thereof will be uniformly stretched and held without the necessity of providing staples or other like securing means. The entire fence can be slackened when it is desired to make repairs and can quickly be stretched subsequently to such operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a fence-post; of bolts extending through and rigidly but detachably connected to the post, said bolts being rectangular in cross-section for a portion of their length and each having an eye at one end, a spring-pressed pawl movably mounted on one of the eyes, a rod rotatably mounted within the eyes, a ratchet secured to the rod and bearing upon the eye to which the pawl is connected, said ratchet being engaged by the pawl, and a fence fabric secured to the rod and extending therefrom and out of contact with the post.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. KOONTZ.

WVitnesses:

DAISY IV. THoRrn, FRANK KooN'rz. 

